Punchestown Festival 2007

Kerry Gold Champion Chase

Nickname and Newmill feature among a classy eight-runner field declared for the Kerrygold Champion Chase on Tuesday.

Martin Brassil's Nickname has won six of his seven starts this season but loves the ground soft. With good ground predicted, My tip is to lay the favourite at around 2/1 on Betfair.

He has had a superb season but the ground is the key to this horse. I feel the horse to beat is Newmill.

He ran out an impressive winner of this race last year having previously won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, he could finish only fourth to Voy Por Ustedes in the race this season.

He should be fit and ready to take his chance and follow up last years Punchestown victory.

Banker Denman a Joy to Watch

Many peoples banker of the week was Paul Nicholls trained Denman and he was fantastic.The seven-year-old won the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase by 10 lengths and now has great Gold Cup credentials. The manner in which he disposed of his rivals was incredible and he has the scope to develop into something very special.

Paul Nicholls has high hopes for his emerging star but will have to do something special to overturn stablemate Kauto Star.Kauto is already favourite to retain his crown and is sure to gove jockey Ruby Walsh a tough decision next year.

Denman jumps well, stays the trip and looks a natural. He is sure to improve over the next season and is definately the horse to watch for 2008!

A possible Nicholl's Gold Cup one, two?

Another Classic Cheltenham

What a week we had at Cheltenham!

Great Weather, Great Racing and a good time enjoyed by all.

It really was a week to remember, culminating in Kauto Star's victory in the Gold Cup.

What a horse!He travelled well, jumped superbly and cruised to victory when jockey Ruby Walsh asked him to kick on. It was the result all us racing fans and experts had wanted and best of all it got one over on the bookies!

The expectation was incredible and with Betfair putting up a million pound bonus the stakes could not have been higher.

Following many disappointments from some top class horses, including the likes of Well Chief and Detroit City, Kauto Star showed why he is the best chaser in the country and why the fans love him so dearly.

This horse is something special and far superior to anything around at this moment in time.

The scary thing is he could improve for next year!